2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell: Info, Pricing, Release Date

Overview

Honda has already experimented in the realm of fuel-cell vehicles with the FCX Clarity. In 2016, Honda’s second crack at this green segment rolls out in the form of the 2017 Honda Clarity FCV.

The body of the Clarity is what you’d expect from a high-tech car, as Honda went a tad overboard with the styling. There are, however, some key cues that this is a Honda, like the chrome accent that strikes through the grille, the LED headlights, and the design of the taillights. The over-the-top bits include its L-shaped LED ruing lights, partially skirted rear wheels, and large rear air outlets. The Clarity FCV will come with 18-inch wheels and will be available in three colors: black, white, and a signature red.

The details surrounding the interior are still limited, but images show a simple yet refined cabin that will feature upscale upholstery. Honda did reveal that the Clarity FCV will feature the Honda Sensing safety package, and Apple CarPlay and Android Apple compatibility. Thanks to a smaller powertrain, the interior will be more spacious than that of the outgoing FCX Clarity.

The powertrain is still not official yet, but initial details indicate significant improvements over its predecessor. The known improvements will include a range of more than 300 miles, a refill time of around three minutes at a pressure of 70 MPa, a 33 percent smaller fuel cell stack, and a 60 percent increase of power density.

While hydrogen refueling infrastructure has a long way to go, Honda is betting heavily on hydrogen power. Companies like Nissan (and relative newcomer Tesla) have been betting that shoppers will prefer battery-electric cars which have improved in price and benefit from a larger recharging network, albeit with a disadvantage when it comes to driving range.

Pricing and Release Date

Honda says official pricing for the Clarity should start around $60,000 before adding destination. The automaker has also disclosed that it expects to offer a lease starting at around $500 per month, on par with the closed-end lease of the first-generation model.

Considering that the Toyota Mirai starts at $57,500 and debuted with a $499 lease, this is about what we expect for this type of vehicle at this stage.

The 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell will launch at select dealers in California by the end of 2016. A new plug-in hybrid based on the same platform will follow by 2018.